Retaining wall stabilization system

ABSTRACT

An adapted retaining block, a system for retaining wall construction employing the adapted retaining block, and a corresponding method in which a single sheet of soil-stabilization material is secured to the adapted retaining block without localized clamping so as to provided double-layer anchoring to a reinforced backfill.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to retaining blocks used in constructing retaining walls and, in particular, is concerned with minimizing the quantity of soil-stabilizing material needed to effectively stabilize the blocks to a reinforced backfill.

It is known that retaining walls are constructed to support landfills, cuttings and other land structures having abrupt changes in elevation. Stacked courses of retaining blocks form the retaining wall, and require stabilization to prevent their dislodgment, or even partial dislodgement caused by slippage of the retained material. Such stabilization is typically provided by an arrangement of multiple sheets of soil-stabilization material buried in the retained material at different heights and attached to a corresponding number of connection configurations vertically interspaced on the backside of the retaining blocks. The drawback to such a stabilization scheme is that it is relatively material and labor intensive; significant manpower, materials and consequent expense is required to spread each layer of soil stabilizing-material over the surface of the retained material, to connect the sheets to the retaining block, to cover each sheets of soil-stabilization material, and to repeat the process several times for each retaining block forming the retaining wall. Therefore, there is a need to minimize the amount of soil-stabilization material used in retaining stabilization arrangements while still effectively stabilizing the retaining wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a retaining block stabilization system for constructing retaining walls comprising: (a) at least one flexible sheet of soil-stabilization material for securing a retaining block to a backfill, (b) a facing slab having a back face and a vertical dimension, and (c) a least one connection-beam, said connection-beam being interconnected with said facing slab and disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across the back face of said facing slab in a fixed spaced relation to the back face so as to form a passageway between said back face and said connection beam for passing the sheet of said soil-stabilizing material through said passageway, looping the sheet around said connection-beam, and securing each of two resulting layers of the sheet in the backfill thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from the single sheet of said soil-stabilizing material.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the two connection-beams are spaced apart vertically.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the two beams are spaced apart vertically such that the space between said connection-beams is greater than 30% of the vertical dimension of said facing slab.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to said facing slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between the back face and said connection-beam.

According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a plurality of support columns interconnected to said facing slab, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with vertically adjacent facing slab so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the facing slab includes at least one vertical edge having a portion formed into a step so as to mesh with a non-stepped portion of a vertical edge of a horizontally adjacent facing slab thereby facilitating alignment of the horizontally adjacent retaining block.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a method for constructing a retaining wall comprising: (a) providing a retaining block having at least one integrally connected connection-beam disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across a back face of said retaining block and in fixed spatial relation to the back face so as to form a passageway between the back face and said connection-beam, (b) covering a first portion of soil-stabilizing material with backfill so as to anchor the first portion soil-stabilizing material in the backfill, (c) passing a second portion of said soil-reinforcing material through said passageway, and (d) covering the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material with backfill so as to anchor the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material in the backfill, thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from a single sheet of said soil-stabilizing material.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.

According to a further feature of the present invention, covering the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material with backfill includes covering the second portion of said soil-stabilizing material at height different than the first portion so that the portions of said soil-stabilizing material are spaced apart in the backfill.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to the back face of said retaining block slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between the back face and said connection-beam.

According to a further feature of the present invention there is also provided a plurality of support columns interconnected to the back face of said retaining block, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with adjacent said facing slabs so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.

According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided repeating the steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) for a plurality of courses of retaining blocks to form a wall.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, an adapted retaining block comprising: (a) a facing slab having a back face and a vertical dimension, and (b) at least one connection-beam, said connection-beam being interconnected with said facing slab and disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across said back face in a fixed spaced relation to said back face so as to form a passageway between said back face and said connection beam for passing a sheet of soil-stabilizing material through said passageway and looping the sheet around said connection-beam and securing each of two resulting layers of the sheet in a backfill thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from the single sheet of the soil-stabilizing material.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the two connection-beams are spaced apart vertically.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the two beams are spaced apart vertically such that the space between said connection-beams is greater than 30% of the vertical dimension of said facing slab.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to said facing slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between said back face and said connection-beam.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the facing slab includes a plurality of support columns interconnected with said facing slab, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with vertically adjacent said facing slabs so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the facing slab includes at least one vertical edge having a portion formed into a step so as to mesh with a non-stepped portion of a vertical edge of a horizontally adjacent facing slab thereby facilitating alignment of the horizontally adjacent retaining block.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a single retaining block;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a single retaining block and associated netting in a first stage of deployment;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a retaining block and associated netting at a second stage of deployment;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a retaining block and associated netting at a third stage of deployment;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a retaining block with the associated netting in a fully deployed state;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of horizontal and vertical courses of retaining block;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the retaining blocks of FIG. 6 with the associated netting in a fully deployed state;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the retaining block and associated netting fully deployed within a backfill.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to the construction of retaining wall, and specifically, the stabilization of the retaining blocks forming these walls. The invention is an adapted retaining block, a stabilization system employing the adapted retaining block in the construction of retaining walls, and a corresponding method.

The principles and operation of the blocks, system, and method according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an adapted retaining block, generally designated 1, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, for use in constructing a retaining wall.

In a most preferred embodiment, the adapted retaining block 1 includes a facing slab 2 serving multiple functions as will be discussed, support columns 3 and 3A for stacking retaining blocks 1, connection-beams 4 and 4A for connecting retaining block 1 to the retained material 10 (backfill for example) by way of sheets of flexible, soil-stabilization material 9 as shown in FIG. 2. Facing slab 2 is a substantially planar structure that is disposed in a substantially vertical manner so that when courses of retaining blocks 1 are stacked on each other, facing slabs 2 collectively form the wall structure of a retaining wall. The face of each facing slab 2 provides a substantially vertical surface for affixing facing material 6 chosen in accordance to customer needs and aesthetic tastes. Additionally, facing slab 2 supports connection-beam 4 and support columns 3 as will be further discussed, and has step 6 disposed on either one, or both, of the vertical edges to facilitate alignment of horizontally adjacent retaining blocks 1. In an exemplary embodiment, retaining block 1 is a monolithic structure having each of the above-mentioned elements integrally formed with facing slab 2, however, it should be noted that retaining block 1 assembled from the above-mentioned elements is also within the scope of the present invention. Regarding the number and placement of the above-mentioned connection-beams and support columns, in an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, retaining block 1 includes two connection-beams 4 and 4A, each being interconnected to facing slab 2 at a different height so that the distance between them spans at least 30% of the vertical height of facing slab 2. It should be appreciated that any plurality of connection-beams, interconnected to facing slab 2 at any plurality of locations and consequent plurality of passageways are within the scope of the present invention. Retaining block 1 also includes four support columns 3 and 3A also interconnected with facing slab 2. It should be noted that for the purposes of this document, the term “column” refers to the portion of the support structure extending above the top surface of upper connection-beam 4 or below the bottom surface of lower connection beam 4A. That portion of the support structure shared with connection-beams 4 and 4A is considered to be part of connection beams 4 or 4A. Retaining block 1 is constructed from formed concrete, or providing the functionality associated with concrete. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, retaining block 1 has a minimum vertical height of 0.5 meter and a minimum horizontal length of 1.0 meter.

FIGS. 2-5 depict adapted retaining block 1 and two sheets of soil-stabilizing material 9 in various deployment stages. Back face 7 of facing slab 2 and the inner face of connection beams 4 and 4A form passageways 8 through which sheets of soil-stabilizing material 9 are passed after sheets 9 have been spread on the surface of the backfill 10. Sheets 9 are covered with backfill 10 thereby securing them securely. Backfill 10 is piled on top of the of covered sheet of soil-stabilizing material 10 so as to provide a second surface significantly elevated from the covered sheet 10. FIG. 5 depicts a last stage of deployment in which the sheets of soil-stabilization materials 9 are doubled over the connection-beam 4 and then spread over the new surface of backfill 10 and again covered with backfill. This stabilization arrangement advantageously provides two separate anchors for each single sheet of soil stabilizing material 9.

“Backfill” refers to soil, or any other material that meets local reinforced-soil safety standards. It should be noted that the any order of insertion and covering of the sheet of soil-stabilizing material 9 with backfill is within the scope of the present invention; i.e. sheet 9 is covered with backfill 10, passed through passageways 4 and 4A and then covered with backfill, or sheet 9 is passed through lower passageway 4A and covered with backfill and then passed through upper passageway 4 and again covered again with backfill, or sheet 9 is inserted through both passageways 4 and 4A and then the first and second portions of sheet 9 are covered with backfill. Furthermore, soil-stabilizing material 9 is implemented as GEOGRID® or any other flexible, polymeric sheets having a soil-anchoring lattice or netting structures.

FIG. 6 depicts a two member, horizontal and vertical course of retaining blocks 1. As shown in the drawing, stacked retaining block 1 is supported by way of support columns 3 and 3A. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment the bottom surface of the lower support columns 3A have a substantially horizontal surface that facilitate abutment with the top surface of upper support columns 3. It should be noted that any surface geometry facilitating abutment are within the scope of the present invention. As mentioned above, facing slab 2 includes a step 6 disposed in either of the vertical edges so as to mesh with a corresponding recess 11 formed by a similar a step offset in the horizontally adjacent block; this feature facilitates alignment between horizontal retaining blocks 1 during deployment.

FIG. 7 depicts the courses of retaining blocks of FIG. 6 together with sheets of soil-stabilization material in its fully deployed state.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a retaining block 1 in its fully deployed state in which sheet of soil-stabilization material 9 is spread over a first layer of backfill 10, is covered with a second layer of backfill 13, is passing underneath lower connection-beam 4A, is passing through lower and upper passageways (not labeled), is looping over upper connection-beam 4, is spread over the top of second layer of backfill 13, and covered by a third layer of backfill 14. The above process is repeated for the entire course of retaining blocks 1 so as to form a retaining wall in which the soil-stabilization sheets are reliably anchored to retaining blocks 1 without employing localized clamping arrangements and each block 1 is stabilized by double-layer anchoring.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A retaining block stabilization system for constructing retaining walls comprising: (a) at least one flexible sheet of soil-stabilization material for securing a retaining block to a backfill, (b) a facing slab having a back face and a vertical dimension, and (c) a least one connection-beam, said connection-beam being interconnected with said facing slab and disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across the back face of said facing slab in a fixed spaced relation to the back face so as to form a passageway between said back face and said connection beam for passing the sheet of said soil-stabilizing material through said passageway, looping the sheet around said connection-beam, and securing each of two resulting layers of the sheet in the backfill thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from the single sheet of said soil-stabilizing material.
 2. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 1 wherein said at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.
 3. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 2 wherein said two connection-beams are spaced apart vertically.
 4. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 3 wherein said two beams are spaced apart vertically such that the space between said connection-beams is greater than 30% of the vertical dimension of said facing slab.
 5. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 1 wherein said connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to said facing slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between the back face and said connection-beam.
 6. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support columns interconnected to said facing slab, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with vertically adjacent facing slab so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.
 7. The retaining wall stabilization system of claim 1 wherein said facing slab includes at least one vertical edge having a portion formed into a step so as to mesh with a non-stepped portion of a vertical edge of a horizontally adjacent facing slab thereby facilitating alignment of the horizontally adjacent retaining block.
 8. A method for constructing a retaining wall comprising: (a) providing a retaining block having at least one integrally connected connection-beam disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across a back face of said retaining block and in fixed spatial relation to the back face so as to form a passageway between the back face and said connection-beam, (b) covering a first portion of soil-stabilizing material with backfill so as to anchor the first portion soil-stabilizing material in the backfill, (c) passing a second portion of said soil-reinforcing material through said passageway, and (d) covering the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material with backfill so as to anchor the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material in the backfill, thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from a single sheet of said soil-stabilizing material.
 9. The method of constructing a retaining wall of claim 8 wherein said at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.
 10. The method of constructing a retaining wall of claim 8 wherein said covering the second portion of said soil-reinforcing material with backfill includes covering the second portion of said soil-stabilizing material at height different than the first portion so that the portions of said soil-stabilizing material are spaced apart in the backfill.
 11. The method of constructing a retaining wall of claim 8 wherein said connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to the back face of said retaining block slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between the back face and said connection-beam.
 12. The method of constructing a retaining wall of claim 8 wherein said retaining block includes a plurality of support columns interconnected to the back face of said retaining block, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with adjacent said facing slabs so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.
 13. The method of constructing a retaining wall of claim 8 further comprising repeating the steps (a), (b), (c), and (d) for a plurality of courses of retaining blocks to form a wall.
 14. An adapted retaining block comprising: (a) a facing slab having a back face and a vertical dimension, and (b) at least one connection-beam, said connection-beam being interconnected with said facing slab and disposed in a substantially horizontal manner across said back face in a fixed spaced relation to said back face so as to form a passageway between said back face and said connection beam for passing a sheet of soil-stabilizing material through said passageway and looping the sheet around said connection-beam and securing each of two resulting layers of the sheet in a backfill thereby providing a double layer of stabilizing support to said retaining block from the single sheet of the soil-stabilizing material.
 15. The adapted retaining block of claim 14 wherein said at least one connection-beam is implemented as two connection-beams.
 16. The adapted retaining block of claim 15 wherein said two connection-beams are spaced apart vertically.
 17. The adapted retaining block of claim 16 wherein said two beams are spaced apart vertically such that the space between said connection-beams is greater than 30% of the vertical dimension of said facing slab.
 18. The adapted retaining block of claim 14 wherein said connection-beam includes at least three support elements connecting said connection-beam to said facing slab so as to provide a plurality of passageways between said back face and said connection-beam.
 19. The adapted retaining block of claim 14 wherein said facing slab includes a plurality of support columns interconnected with said facing slab, a first set of said support columns having a substantially horizontal top surface and a second set of support columns having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, each of said horizontal top surfaces being configured for abutment with said bottom horizontal surfaces of said support columns associated with vertically adjacent said facing slabs so as to enable stacking of said retaining blocks one above another.
 20. The adapted retaining block of claim 14 wherein said facing slab includes at least one vertical edge having a portion formed into a step so as to mesh with a non-stepped portion of a vertical edge of a horizontally adjacent facing slab thereby facilitating alignment of the horizontally adjacent retaining block. 